It states that “Of the 7,251 foreign students who applied for permanent residency (PR) between the years 2008 and 2017, 5,932 were granted PR status, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Josephine Teo on Tuesday (6 February).

Speaking in Parliament, Teo added that of these permanent residents, 1,072 subsequently took up citizenship as at the end of 2017. Eighty-five of them have renounced their permanent residency.”

Why do we allow or encourage foreign students to apply to become permanent residents (PRs)?

Are there any other countries in the world that do this?

The annual tuition fee at the National University of Singapore (NUS) for the academic year 2017/2018 is $37,950 for Engineering/Science/Computing for foreigners, and $11,400 for PRs.

So, does it mean that by converting to a PR – a foreign student may reduce his or her tuition fees by $106,200 ($37,950 – $11,400 x 4 years)?

Wouldn’t it be better not to reduce the fees of so many foreign students, but to channel the sum to help Singaporean students instead,

How many foreign students in total were there from 2008 to 2017, including those who did not apply to become PRs?

How many PRs’ students were there from 2008 to 2017, who paid lower fees than foreigners, and how many foreigners under the MOE tuition grant, graduated to serve their minimum 3-year bonds to compete with Singaporeans for jobs?

About the Author

Leong Sze Hian has served as president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), invited to speak more than 200 times in over 30 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of Indonesia and Brunei. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications.